Waste gas burner



Jan. 9, 1951 H. RODMAN ETAL WASTE GAS BURNER Filed 001,. 20. 1945 5 M2 5 A M m 6 Q6, Wm Fb W 6 0/ I i I I Z 7 m d i 2 Z fi P 5 8 I 7 0 7f/ 4 W j m H j H 4 f h 0 WV 1 z I 5 2 a I 7 Z I E 1 1 I l I W EZ 7 0 3W 2 Patented Jan." 9, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE WASTE GAS BURNER Hugh Rodman, Chicago, and Bernard M. Becker,

La Grange, Ill.,

assignors to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,528

3 Claims. 1

burners and ignition systems positioned near the top of the stack thereby 'causing'their destruction, or travels down the lee side of the stack destroying its upper portion.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved stack construction, particularly at its upper extremity.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved gas pilot and pilot ignition system in connection with the burner stack.

This improved field burner has a large horizontally placed deck-like member which circumscribes the top of the stack to provide a flamestop and prevent the flame from burning time top portion of the stack itself. I face of the flame-stop is provided with an insulating cement, refractory, or other similar material which will satisfactorily resist heat and flame. Pilot flame lighters or igniters are provided at spaced points or intervals around the top of the stack, projecting through openings in the flame-stop. An improved igniting means is provided for lighting the stack pilot by automatic electrically controlled means from a remote push-button station. This latter feature is of particular value providing a positive and safe method for igniting the stack.

Additional features of the field burner as to its construction and operation, as well as those of the ignition system in conjunction with it, will be made more apparent by reference to the accompanying drawing and the following description:

Figure 1 of the drawing shows an elevational view of the improved burner stack, and a diagrammatic piping and electrical ignition system.

Figure 2 of the drawing shows a plan view of the upper part of the stack, as indicated by line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 of the drawing shows an enlarged sectional view through the upper part of the stack, as indicated by line 33 in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing, a stack I is provided to function as a field torch or burner for combustible waste gases which are The upper sur-" 2 charged through conduit line 2. This stack I is rather small in diameter considering its height, being say approximately one foot in diameter for a height of perhaps one hundred feet or more. Of course the size of the stack is not fixed and will vary to suit the plant, amount of waste gas supply, location and height of other plant equipment, etc. The stack I is provided with a suitable foundation 3 at its lower end and in addition is provided with guy wires, stays or other means,

none of which are shown, that act to make the burner stack entirely stable.

The top end of the stack I is provided with a horizontal plate 4 which is preferably circular, extending from the outside of the stack in a deck-like manner to forma flame stop. On top of the plate 4 is placed high temperature insulating cement or refractory material 5, and below the plate 4 a plurality of suitable bracketlike members 6 may be spaced to provide structural support. The diameter of the flame-stop may vary with the size of the burner stack I and may vary also with local wind conditions; however, in general the diameter of plate 4 is made large enough to prevent the flame from traveling down over the edge and contacting the upper portion of the stack itself.

The waste gas which is to be burned normally enters the stack through conduit 2, forcing open a flapper type check valve I which is placed diagonally across the stack at a point just above the inlet juncture. A smaller conduit 8, connecting the inlet line 2 to the stack I at a point just above the flapper check valve I, is particularly useful to pass small quantities of gas which would not lift the check valve 1. In addition, the line 8 may be used to serve as a drain line for any condensation or liquid material which may collect in the stack above the flapper valve "I. A flame arrestor 9 is provided in the conduit 8, thus flame is definitely prevented from reaching the inlet line 2, by virtue of the check valve I and the flame arrestor 9.

The stack I itself may be used to hold a pilot flame with a suitable combustible gas being supplied by way of inlet conduit ID that joins directly to the inside of the stack, with the rate of gas flow being controlled by valve II. An improved electrically fired igniter system is used to light the pilot gas. AS least three igniter ports I 2 are provided equally spaced around the top of the stack I outlet, so that regardless of wind direction, there will be drift of pilot gas from the large stack I over one of the igniter ports I2. An explosive and combustible mixture of gas and air is carried through the riser line or conduit I3 to the top of the stack where the flow stream is split by cross 14 to lines l5, which in turn cannect with the outlet ports l2. Gas may pass through hne I6 and control valve I! to mix with air from line 3 and passmg through control valve 19. Thus, by proper adiustment of valves l1 and 19 a combustible mixture may be passed from line hi to line 2|! and to vertical line 13, and tne mixture flred by a remotely placed ignition system. A bottom extension of hne l3 and a valve 2| provides means to drain the piping of condensation or other liquid. 7

The ignition system basically comprises an electric current supply such as a battery and spark coil 22, a push-button switch 23, and a spark plug 24. As indicated in the drawing one side of the ignition coil 22 is grounded to the piping system and the other wire from the passes through the switch 23 to the center pole of the spark plug 24. The plug 24 is mounted at the juncture of conduits I6 and 20 or at any othersuitable point in the mixed gas line, so that by pushing the button of switch 23 the gas and air mixture in the hne 20 is momentarily nred or exploded by the spark from plug 24. The explosion or flame front carries rapidly througn 111185 2c and hi to reach each or the ports I: from one or more or which the pilot gas stream m the mam stack is ignited.

Figure 2 of the drawing shows a plan view of the upper end of the burner stack, the name-stop 4 and the igniter ports I2.

Figure 3 of the drawing shows a sectional elevational view through the upper portion of the burner stack as indicated by the line 3-3 of F ure 2. The view is enlarged somewhat to show more clearly the improved features. It should be noted that the igmter outlets I2 are enlarged slightly as compared to the lines 15 and the line I3, so that the velocity of the igniting explosion is reduced prior to contacting the pilot gas stream from the main stack I. Also, the ports 12 are brought just flush with the top surface of the insulating material 5 in order to prevent their being burned off by the large flame which is normally burning continuously.

A field burner in most installations is normally in fairly continuous operation, burning combustible waste gases. However, the pilot gas line It] should have a continuous gas supply and valve ll normally open, so that a flame may be maintained at the top of the stack regardless of a varying supply through line 2. The igniter system will be used only on occasions when the flame has been completely extinguished. Experience has shown that only a small gas supply is needed to maintain a pilot flame at the top of the stack I even though it is of a comparatively large diameter as compared to line H).

An advantageous feature of this burner and flow system in connection therewith is provided, however, by the fact that the igniter burners I! may be used as pilot burners after having once ignited the flame in the main stack 1. The an supply to line l6 may be stopped by valve l9 and the gas supply through valve [1 maintained open; thus the gas supply is carried in ports ii! at the top of the stack, by way of lines 20 and I3, and will be ignited from the large flame. The alternate positioning of the pilot flame may be oi advantage at times in operation.

The description of the improved field burner and igniter system has been specific to the form illustrated. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the exact scheme of piping shown or to other unimportant details of construction.

We claim as our invention:

1. A waste gas burner comprising a burner stack, a deck member circumscribing the upper end of said stack and extending horizontally therefrom to form a flame-stop, said deck member being provided with an upper surface of flame-resistant material and a plurality of ignition ports spaced circumferentially around said stack and extending vertically through said deck and said upper surface, a waste gas inlet to said stack, a pilot gas inlet tosaid stack, and igniting means communicating with said ignition ports for supplying ignited pilot gas thereto.

2. The waste gas burner as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said igniting means comprises a riser line extending to the upper end of said stack, a plurality of branch lines extending from said riser and communicating with said ignition ports, an adJustable air supply and an adjustable combustible gas supply connecting to said riser line, a spark plug inserted in said riser line, an electric current supply, an ignition coil, and a switch, said switch being operative to pass current to said spark plug from said ignition coil and said spark plug being operative to electrically flre the combustible gas and air mixture in said riser line.

3. A waste gas burner comprising a burner stack, a deck member circumscribing the upper end of said stack and extending horizontally therefrom to form a flame-stop, said deck member being provided with an upper surface of flame-resistant material and a plurality of ignition ports extending through said deck and said upper surface, a waste gas inlet pipe communicating with said stack, a check valve disposed within said stack above said waste gas inlet pipe. a conduit connecting said waste gas inlet pipe with said stack at a point in the latter above said check valve, a flame arrestor in said conduit, 9. pilot gas inlet to said stack above said check valve, and igniting means communicating with said ignition ports for supplying ignited pilot gas thereto.

HUGH RODMAN. BERNARD M. BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 

